NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 67 



The Baboons have been specially designed by Nature for 

 life upon the ground, surrounded by dangerous enemies. 

 But for their big canine teeth, their fierce tempers and bull- 

 dog courage, backed by a fine combination of strength 

 and agility, the lions, leopards, hyenas and jackals of 

 Africa would have exterminated them all, ages ago. They 

 were not formed to become hand-organ beasts of burden, 

 nor even companions to man, but rather to fight off their 

 enemies, and bluff even the king of beasts when occasion 

 requires. In captivity, their strength and ferocity always 

 inspires respect, and sometimes genuine terror. At all 

 times they require to be treated as dangerous animals. 



Of the various species of baboons on exhibition in the 

 Primate House, the full-grown Mandrill is the most inter- 

 esting, and wonderful. It seems like an animal not of this 

 earth, and reminds the visitor of one of the great beasts of 

 the visions of St. John the Divine. The home of this species 

 is in West Africa, and it is found from Senegambia to the 

 Congo. The long shaggy hair, lion-like appearance, the 

 peculiar color markings of the face, and the indescribable 

 grimaces, instantly fix the attention of every visitor. 



The Hamadryas Baboon, with long side whiskers and 

 cape of long hair, is one of the handsomest animals of this 

 group. Its explosive, ear-racking cry is almost as startling 

 to visitors as a cannon-shot. 



The Golden Baboon has the liveliest disposition and the 

 best temper possessed by any baboon. Young specimens 

 are full of good-natured mischief, and are much given to 

 hectoring their cage-mates. The Long-Armed Yellow Ba- 

 boon is quite at home in the Primate House, and has bred 

 here. It is a good species to keep in captivity. 



The Group of Old World Monkeys contains several spe- 

 cies worthy of special remark. There are some which have 

 tails so very short and insignificant that they seem to be 

 tailless, and several of them are called "apes." They are 

 not true anthropoids (man-like apes), however, and it is a 

 confusing error to designate any of them as "apes." The 

 species referred to are the following : 



The Black "Ape," of Celebes, exceedingly like a true 



baboon. 



The Magot, or Barbary "Ape," of North Africa and Gib- 

 raltar, which is a true macaque. 



The Japanese Red-Paced Monkey, another macaque, with 

 a brilliant red face, and long, thick coat of hair, which 



